How to loosen the soil in a pot?

Today we will talk to you about why the soil in flower pots is loosened

?.
Most indoor plants need loosening, including vegetables grown on windowsills for consumption. Loosening the soil in pots with indoor plants is an important agricultural technique for caring for plants
.

It often happens that a whitish coating or a dried crust

after watering. The whitish coating is formed mainly due to excess mineral fertilizers. Loosening helps improve the condition of the soil in pots.

How to transplant a flower into a pot without holes?

Planting rules: pots without

drainage holes Every drop of water you add to your
planter
will stay there.
While it is usually recommended to completely saturate the plant with water when watering, in a pot without
drainage you need to water a little and slowly so that the water flows evenly through the soil and does not accumulate at the bottom.

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Is it necessary to loosen the soil of indoor plants?

In hot summers, especially if there is no rain for a long time, it is very important to loosen the soil in the garden, not only to get rid of weeds that grow in any weather, but also to increase gas exchange in the top layer of soil and to conserve moisture.

Loosening the soil ensures a good supply of basic nutrients to vegetable crops. To increase the yield of such plants, it is necessary to loosen the soil more often.

If the soil is heavy in mechanical composition, then very quickly the top layer becomes covered with a hard crust and moisture from the lower layers of the soil quickly rises through numerous cracks and capillaries to the surface, where it evaporates.

With strong soil compaction and the presence of a crust on its surface, it disrupts the air gas exchange processes in the upper layer of soil - the roots suffocate, not receiving the necessary oxygen.

Loosen the soil no deeper than 1-1.5 cm

and only near the walls of the pot, so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface.

If you do not loosen the soil, the plant not only suffocates, but also suffers from blackleg.

Constantly loosening the soil in a pot destroys cracks and capillaries in the top layer of soil, as a result the top layers of soil become breathable, evaporation of moisture from the ground is reduced, and moisture remains in the ground.

How to avoid mistakes when loosening?

Mistake #1. Sometimes gardeners carry out pre-planting loosening of the soil, and the seeds are planted in the prepared beds after a few days; moisture loss occurs.

Plant seeds or seedlings immediately after pre-loosening the beds to preserve soil moisture.

Mistake #2. Loosening after rain is carried out too early, when the ground has not yet dried out enough.

Wait for the soil to dry out sufficiently. If there is still wet soil on the tools, loosening is not carried out.

Tools and techniques for loosening the soil

There are a variety of devices for tillage by loosening the soil: manual, mechanical, electric. Please ensure that they are comfortable, ergonomic, reliable, and made of durable material, such as special tool steel.

Tip #2. It is advisable to purchase manual rippers with bright colored handles so that they are clearly visible on the soil if they are accidentally forgotten.

The following tools are used for loosening:

Hoe;
Rake;
Flat cutter;
Manual rippers;
Garden forks;
Shovel-baking powder;
Rotary hoes;
Manual, electric and mechanical cultivators;
Harrows of various configurations.

Tools for work are selected based on the required gripping depth and row spacing. The soil should dry out from moisture and dew, so the best time for work is the beginning of the day, when there is no extreme heat.

Tools are selected depending on the depth of loosening and the width of the rows; the soil must be dry from moisture

The soil is loosened well, removing the crust, and leveled. During deeper loosening, no large lumps or blocks of earth should remain on the surface; they should be carefully broken up and the soil should also be leveled. It is easier to loosen heavy soil with a flat cutter.

Tip #3. The soil should not stick to the tool when loosening; you should wait until the moisture is better absorbed.

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Why do you need to loosen the soil in the garden or in flower pots?

Loosening brings great benefits, allowing you to improve the structure of the soil and increase the yield. Let's consider all the advantages of this method of care:

Providing soil with air. All plants at any phase of their development require the presence of oxygen. But if the above-ground part receives constant access to it, then the roots, especially on dense soils, as well as in the presence of a formed crust, begin to experience oxygen starvation. Plants begin to get sick and wither. In addition to oxygen, the air also contains carbon dioxide, which is involved in photosynthesis.

The task of the gardener and gardener is to regularly ensure the flow of air into the soil. To do this, the soil must be kept loose.
Improving soil structure. With the help of constant loosening, the soil structure improves, hard lumps are broken up, large stones and weed roots are removed, and it is aerated.
Fighting soil crust. The crust appears after rains or heavy watering, especially on heavy clay soils. This “shell” prevents the penetration of air and does not allow crops to break through to the surface. Young seedlings, due to compaction of the soil and disruption of gas exchange in it, often develop root rot. Due to the capillaries formed in the crust, moisture evaporates from the soil more quickly. And again loosening will come to the rescue.
Weed control. Cultivated plants suffer greatly from weeds, especially in the spring, when their violent growth can drown out the crops. Loosening the soil when the weeds are in the “white thread” stage, that is, they have just hatched from seeds, helps to significantly reduce their number.
Moisture retention. Loosening the soil helps conserve moisture. That is why experts recommend carrying out this technique after every rain. And loosening in early spring will preserve reserves of snow moisture, which will have a beneficial effect on crops and will help increase yields. After all, snow cover contains up to 30-50% of all annual precipitation.
Destruction of pests. Many pests that overwinter in the ground will not be able to get up after spring loosening and will die.

Timing and methods of loosening

Loosening is carried out in the following periods:

before planting plants or sowing seeds;
after planting plants or sowing seeds, usually after 1-1.5 weeks for the plants to take root;
before and after watering, fertilizing or heavy rain, how the moisture is absorbed (usually the next day);
loosening of row spacing is carried out as weeds and crusts appear on the soil.

The loosening technique is directly related to the types of soil, the characteristics of the planted plants, as well as the stages of their development.

Earth in flower pots

There are three components to the beauty and harmony of a houseplant: the plant itself, the pot, and the appearance of the soil surface. And if no one doubts the first two points (the plant must be well-groomed and healthy, and the pot must correspond to the size of the plant’s root system), then not everyone is concerned about the aesthetics of the soil surface. But in vain...

The land can and even should be hidden. This procedure is called mulching. Mulching “kills two birds with one stone”: it camouflages the soil and creates better conditions for plants.

Thanks to this method, the evaporation of moisture from the soil is reduced, while creating poor conditions for the germination of weeds and the penetration of pests into the soil, which is also an undeniable advantage of this method, and, of course, the flowerpot gets a beautiful appearance.

Today the editors of “So Simple!” will tell you about several mulching options that will make caring for green pets much easier, as well as decorate your interior. Save it, it will come in handy![1]

The material with which you are going to cover the soil must allow water and air to pass through well and not contain harmful substances. Please note that not every material that is used for these purposes in the garden is suitable for indoor plants.

Types of mulch for flowerpots

The most economical option is suitable for those who have plants with beautiful colored leaves. They can be crushed and sprinkled onto the soil in pots.

Pay special attention to chopped greens from plants such as nettles, legumes, and yarrow. Such grasses are rich in macroelements, nitrogen and can be used as soil enrichment.

© DepositPhotos Pine mulch, made from bark, humus, sawdust, are organic materials that help enrich the soil and regulate its acidity. At the same time, bark for mulching, humus, compost, peat, tea, pine needles and other substances can protect the plant from lack of moisture; they serve as an additional source for feeding.

© DepositPhotos Colored foam chips are used from synthetic materials, which do not have any effect on the soil and the plant itself. The service life of such materials is long, they do not interact with the soil, they perform a strictly decorative role, retaining moisture in the ground, preventing it from evaporating.

How loosening the soil affects the soil USE. Why do you loosen the soil when growing plants?

First, you should answer two questions for yourself: why do you loosen the soil when growing plants, and how to do it correctly? And only then should you get to work.

1. Soil aeration. Life is impossible without air, and all plants grown by humans also need it. Countless metabolic processes that ensure the appearance, development, flowering and fruiting of any plant involve components contained in the air - oxygen and carbon dioxide, and they must be consumed by both above-ground (stems, leaves, flowers) and underground parts of the plant (roots). Here it should immediately be noted that if loosened carelessly or too deeply, you can disrupt the root system and thereby damage the entire plant. We will talk about proper loosening in more detail in a separate section of the article. 2. Weed removal. If you simply cut the weed flush with the ground, it will soon grow back from the remaining root. When loosening, all weeds are removed entirely, freeing up space for growth and basic substances (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus) for feeding cultivated plants. 3. Improving the mechanical composition of the soil. Large clods of earth break up. Stones, pieces of clay and all kinds of debris are removed. The crust on the soil surface is removed. And all this happens with just loosening the soil. It is extremely useful to remove the crust, which impedes the growth of young plant shoots (lettuce, radishes, which sprout quickly, and carrots are especially affected because of their tenderness) and gives the plantings a very unaesthetic appearance. You only need to see a pale gray bed or flowerbed riddled with cracks once and immediately grab the tool. 4. Pest control. You can notice the yellow wireworm or the Colorado potato beetle, which has not yet woken up after winter, only by loosening the soil intended for planting. And loosening in late autumn brings to the surface harmful insects wintering in the ground, which will definitely be killed by the first frosts. 5. Moisture retention. Loose soil implies the presence of a small layer of air between individual soil particles, which protects against the successive transfer of moisture from bottom to top and its rapid evaporation. The best option would be a combination of loosening followed by mulching (covering the soil with a layer of grass, sawdust or wood chips). In this case, the soil remains loosened and moistened 5-6 times longer.

How, when and with what to loosen

Having understood why the soil is loosened when growing plants, you should master the technology of this process. Each type of loosening is determined by its purpose.

1. Deep loosening. It is made on the bayonet of a shovel (30-40 centimeters). It is necessary for pre-sowing treatment of all layers of soil when planting any types of crops (even very small in size), as well as for the destruction of pests at the end of the season. The tools are: cultivator, large shovel, harrow, hoe. 2. Medium loosening of the soil layer is used when preparing the soil for planting. It is carried out on the floor of a shovel (15-20 centimeters) immediately before sowing seeds or planting small seedlings for maximum crushing of lumps of earth. Shovels of all sizes, hoes, large forks and rakes are used. 3. For shallow (superficial) loosening, the depth of tillage is 5-10 cm. It is carried out around plantings, between rows, and is also intended to remove crust and weeds. Suitable tools include small forks, spatulas, rakes and even ordinary, slightly dull knives.

Important to remember

Each type of plant has its own form of root system:

• fibrous, consisting of a large number of equal-sized roots; • taproot, represented by one main long root, overgrown with a mass of small adventitious root branches.

Plants also differ in the size of the root bush. All this should be taken into account before loosening, and you should accurately imagine the outlines and dimensions of the underground part of a particular plant, so as not to damage it. This is especially important when working with young plants, each root of which is vital.

The frequency of loosening directly depends on:

• on the mechanical composition of the soil: loam is cultivated 3-4 times more often than sandy loam; • from the presence of a mulch layer (this was mentioned above); • on the frequency and intensity of precipitation (the usual rule is loosening after each rain); • on the speed of plant growth.

Separately, it is worth mentioning that when growing potted plants, loosening should be carried out only as long as there is space free from roots in the earthen coma. Then you will need to replant, that is, transfer the plant to a larger pot with a complete replacement of the soil substrate.

Conclusion

Loosening the soil is the most important technological component for the successful cultivation of any plants. Having become familiar with the principles, as well as the main varieties of this technique, you can safely apply it in gardening and agricultural work.

Mulch for indoor flowers

Mulching will not hurt to preserve moisture. Under a layer of mulch, the soil also remains looser and retains moisture for a long time.

For many indoor plants (as well as garden ones) this is very important. Mulching the soil creates more favorable conditions for the growth and development of plants. After all, the air that penetrates the upper layers of the soil contains not only oxygen, but also carbon dioxide, which takes part in plant photosynthesis.

You can use forest moss as mulch for indoor plants (if not, you can use sphagnum moss, which is sold for orchids); pine sawdust, bark mulch; humus; small pebbles. From synthetic materials, you can use colored foam chips.

Answers to pressing questions

Question No. 1. What is more correct - to loosen or mulch the plantings?

Both methods are equally applicable for complete plant care, and have their pros and cons.

Question No. 2. Is it possible to combat soil crust before germination by methods other than loosening and mulching?

If there is water on the site, you can water the beds by sprinkling with a fine spray before emergence, preventing the crust from drying out. And after germination, carry out fine loosening.

Question No. 3. How to loosen beds with carrots, they take a very long time to sprout, and when loosening the crops can be damaged?

For beds with slow-germinating seeds, there is a “blind” processing rule. When planting, faster-germinating ones such as radish, lettuce, and radish are mixed with such seeds. They represent rows. Loosening and weeding can be carried out focusing on these “beacons”.

Question No. 4. Is it necessary to loosen the soil under the mulch?

This depends on the type of mulching material used and the condition of the soil. A crust does not form under the mulch, but if the soil is compacted, it should be loosened or pierced with a fork.

Gardener's review of loosening

On my small plot I grow various vegetables, herbs, and have a little bit of everything. I have always believed that loosening is a very important element of care, just like watering. Without it, the earth quickly compacts, becomes like stone, and plants wither and develop poorly. Therefore, I immediately made it a rule not to neglect the beds and loosen them after rainfall and watering, so that a crust does not form.

There are also some tricks here - you must wait for the soil to dry out, but not dry out completely. Then start loosening it. With regular care, moisture is well retained and much less watering will be required.

I like to work with a tool like a flat cutter, but this, of course, is everyone's personal choice.

How should I replace soil in potted indoor plants?

When replacing the soil, the soil grasped by the roots of the plant remains unchanged. The main soil lump must remain in place. First you need to carefully remove the flower from the pot along with all the soil, then with careful movements separate the areas that are not captured by the roots of the soil, as if with gentle shaking movements. To fertilize new land, powdered charcoal is added to it. It has an excellent healing property - it prevents suppuration. Coal is also capable of absorbing excess moisture from the soil and releasing it when the soil becomes dry. Coal makes the soil porous, which helps plant roots breathe.

The prepared new soil is poured into the bottom of the pot, then a flower with its own lump of earth is placed there and the remaining spaces are filled with soil.

The purpose of the lesson:

· continue to introduce the rules of caring for indoor plants, show their role in human life.

Continue to develop children’s interest in the plant world;

Bring children to understand that indoor plants are living organisms that require certain care;

To consolidate knowledge about the basic needs of indoor plants;

Teach children how to construct a statement;

Develop algorithmic skills;

Cultivate a love for plants, a desire to care for them.

Answer the problematic question “Why do you need to care for indoor plants?”

Learn to care for indoor plants.

Why do they loosen the soil in flower pots?

Today we will talk to you about why they loosen the soil in flower pots
?
Most indoor plants need loosening, including vegetables grown on windowsills for consumption. Loosening the soil in pots with indoor plants is an important agricultural technique for caring for plants
.

It often happens that a whitish coating or a dried crust

after watering. The whitish coating is formed mainly due to excess mineral fertilizers. Loosening helps improve the condition of the soil in pots.

What is the purpose of loosening the soil around plants?

4
Solution

The answer is simple. They loosen it so that the plant can breathe, so that a lot of air gets to the root system. After watering or rain, the soil dries out and a crust forms. It needs to be broken and the plant allowed to breathe. If the plant has not yet sprouted, then the crust is also broken so that the plant germinates more easily. When it appeared. then they also loosen, but between the rows.

replied 2013-01-02T18:16:53.000000+04:00 6 years, 9 months ago

Scood

603

3 more answers

after watering, especially if you are leaving for a week, you definitely need to loosen it, so that a crust does not form, and the moisture is better retained. This is especially important when the plants are still small and weak. If you watered it, but you need to leave right away, you can’t loosen it, you need to sprinkle it with some mulch , sand, grass, dry earth.

replied 2013-01-02T23:15:54.000000+04:00 6 years, 9 months ago

Farmith

The soil around the plants is loosened so that moisture can flow more easily to the roots of the plant. Because when the soil becomes oak, water flows in, but worse, and dries out faster, while loosened soil dries out longer and fewer weeds grow on it. I think so.

replied 2013-01-02T18:13:46.000000+04:00 6 years, 9 months ago

Greadinger

483

I also often loosen the soil of my indoor flowers. This is a very useful and in some ways even necessary procedure. In addition to all of the above, this allows you to mix the soil and make it more accessible to fertilizers.